City to host open house on private pond inspections

The city will host an open house to answer questions about the new inspection requirements for owners of permanent stormwater management facilities on Thursday, Nov. 15 from 1-3 p.m. at the San Marcos Rec Hall, 170 Charles Austin.

Owners of stormwater facilities typically include HOAs, commercial properties, and multifamily developments.

This does not relate to stock ponds as they are not permanent stormwater management facilities, but rather to the inspection and maintenance of stormwater management facilities that are privately owned. Permanent stormwater management facilities are designed to capture, treat and release stormwater run-off.

City staff will give a brief presentation and provide information on annual inspection requirements for these facilities. Cities in Texas with a Municipal Storm Sewer System Permit (MS4) have requirements in regards to inspecting/maintaining permanent stormwater management facilities. However, each MS4 may vary in their requirements.

Types of stormwater facilities covered include:

• Dry detention
• Wet detention
• Bio retention
• Underground detention
• Constructed wetland
• Vegetated swale
• Permeable pavers
• Hydrodynamic separators

On July 5, 2017 ordinance no. 2017-33 was passed requiring owners of permanent stormwater management facilities to conduct annual inspections of each facility. This ordinance (section 86.531 of City Code) stems down from the Clean Water Act which is regulated in Texas by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). These stormwater management facilities mitigate the effects of impervious cover in urban areas related to both water quality and quantity. If permanent stormwater management facilities are operating as it they were originally designed, benefits include pollutant removal before discharging to local waterbodies and decreasing the occurrence of flooding.

The inspection report must be prepared by a Texas-licensed engineer who has been pre-certified by the city. Property owners are required to submit an annual inspection report to the city by Jan. 31, 2019.

Owners of permanent stormwater management facilities are encouraged to visit the city's website to view a list of pre-certified engineers who are able to conduct inspections of permanent stormwater management facilities in San Marcos.

For more information, call 512-393-8036.